POSITIVE Parenting

While children need to know the biological facts about sex, they also need to understand that relationships involve caring, concern and responsibility. By discussing the emotional aspect of a relationship with children, they will be better informed to make decisions later and to resist peer pressure.

According to Doret Crawford, coordinator at Coalition for Better Parenting, parents are required to educate their children from an early stage about relationship building and the types of relationship they get involved in.

She said information should be disseminated based on the age of the child.

"You will tell a nine-year-old about the social grouping, the type of persons they should take for a friend, but as they grow closer to the age of consent, you can talk to them about intimacy," Crawford told The Gleaner.

Group relationship

Some of the qualities that the experts highlighted that should be passed on to the children are kindness, forgiveness and faith.

She pointed out that group relationship is highly recommended for teenagers because it builds good friendship.

"It is very beneficial because when they go out they would be too busy laughing and talking to each other that they wouldn't have the time to be in a private corner to have sex," she informed.

She said the group must be free from persons who are involved in illegal activities as it could be an unhealthy lifestyle for the children.

"The group must be solely dealing with positive activities so that your child won't be influenced in bad behaviours," the professional said.

Parents must be involved in children's life right through the development continuum, Crawford said, so that they can offer guidance along the way.

"You have to tell them about decency in a relationship, pride, respect for self and other person, so they will display high self-esteem," she explained.

"Help them to realise what they want in life so that they won't allow intimate relationships to deprive them of their goals."

Teenage years

Entertaining conversations that are positive are also helpful to maintain good relationships.

She said building the relationship starts with that which the parents have with the children.

In addition, she said parents should remember that the children are those below 18 years old and, therefore, parents should know who are their friends, places they are going and parents should show their authority by setting a time for them to return home.

At teenage years, the necessary development is taking place in the body, said Crawford, so it is important to educate them about those changes.

Moral values are important too. "You need to tell your daughters that they are going to have feelings for men as they go on but it's a natural process of the body and it doesn't mean they should go and give their bodies to any man," she explained.

"They must also be assured that later in life they will find someone who posses good qualities, whom they can marry and have a committed relationship with," she added.